Random Acts in the Mail

I've had GREAT mail arriving in my PO box lately! Above, this fabulous garland from Linda. I will keep it up all year round- it works for all seasons (love the colors!). It's hanging on the faux mantle in my studio.

From Chris, a wonderful collection of 12 tags with a cleverly illustrated scripture for each month. She said she made up 30 of these bunches for RAKing! From Donna K.- a beautiful folio of "change" scriptures, postage stamps from her trip to Bulgaria and a beautiful, lovely charm. The charm needs a special chain all by itself. I am all loved up!

Harvest

While the farmers around here are harvesting corn, I thought I would do my own gathering in. I collected seeds from my marigolds (I love their smell!), morning glories and zinnias.

Come January or so when I am between major holiday projects (I can dream, can't I?) I will make decorated seed packets to RAK to friends and family in the spring. I don't have Christmas 2007 wrapped up yet, but I have provisions for the Spring of 2008!

Framed!

I went to the Classic Shop again, on Saturday, this time with the kids and while they rummaged through toys, I noticed the shop's large collection of frames, as if for the first time. I walked away with 2 grocery bags full, whereas the kids were disappointed to only have found one toy each that they were willing to plunk down their coins for (I was amazed!) Because I am notorious for bringing home, "junk", I vowed to myself that I would DO something with my new "treasures" and as it happened, Rebecca fell asleep in the car on the drive home (Divine intervention for sure!)

While Rebecca napped for over an hour and the older kids were self occupied, I got busy with furniture polish, metal fly screening, mini brads and vintage photos and created these 3 gems. I delivered them today to my good friend Liz to sell in her shop. She is getting a table at Higginsville's fall festival this coming weekend and plans to take my pieces along. I hope to make a few more things for her to sell.

Toe Rings

I am diligently writing ebay auctions this morning to post tonight when Rebecca comes dancing into my studio sporting her green velvet dress-up dress (once worn by older sister Victoria) and creative footwear, er TOE wear. How cute is THAT? I laugh every time I see this picture! Glad I took the picture quick, because a few minutes later she had shed her toe rings and was frollicking, once again, au naturelle.

The Classic Shop

I didn't go yesterday, so I had to go today and look what I found!!! Five little bottles, corks intact (and removable) @10 cents. I left a price tag on to prove it. Varigated sewing thread in my favorite golden shades, 25 cents. Card of seam bias lace, 10 cents (I have a box full, but can't resist another purchase- it was only a DIME, come on!) The bottles will be altered and sent out as RAKs if I don't keep one or two for myself. I will be sure to post the transformation.

I have to explain the Classic Shop, because it is AMAZING as thrift stores go. To quote from my zine, "64021" (see sidebar), "Run by an ecumenical group of volenteers, the Classic Shop appears to be just another thrift store, but I consider it my treasure cave. The ladies dutifully put everything out for sale, odds and ends and bits of things other thrift stores would throw out... " And I find amazing things for dimes or free (sometimes they will throw an item into the bag and say, "just have it". Yet, I have been told several times that they make their rent, utlilties ad insurance payments and STILL have money to give back to the community. The school once called The Classic Shop about financing a pair of glasses for a little boy whose parents couldn't afford them. The Classic Shop did. I can support that. Often at the checkout counter I say, "keep the change".

Wings

What could be more lavish than using REAL butterfly wings in your artwork? I have run across more expired butterflies this year than most and carefully scoop them up to use in art. My kids will even spot them for me (they know my fascination and they love butterflies too). Worn and tattered doesn't matter to me. They are beautiful in any condition.

This ATC was made almost completely out of RAK'd (to me) materials- from the Golden Glazed background paper to the Victorian child, to the dictionary words. I just added the vintage postage stamp and wings. It will be flying off as a RAK to someone else today

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!

I was tagged one post ago, but have been sitting on this one. Linda (thank YOU!) tagged me and I am supposed to list 6 interesting or weird things about myself, then I am supposed to tag 6 other people. I'll start with my list and maybe tag later.

1. I was born in Louvaine, Belgium. To an American mother and an Australian father.

2. I was a "boat child". Crossed the Atlantic when I was about 1 year old (I'll have to find the picture of my mom holding me on the deck's rail).

3. I married a Thompson, but my maiden name is Bakunovich. Pronounced like it's spelled! The weird thing is, people ask me how to spell Thompson! With an "h" and a "p"?

4. Weird: I have a dimple in my right hand pinky finger, right under the nail. I've always had it. When I was a kid, I wondered if a doctor had stuck me with a needle when I was born and it healed badly.

5. I have met Martha Stewart, dined with Joan Walsh Anglund, have a picture drawn by Chuck Jones, signatures from Jim Davis, Mr. Rogers, Sam Butcher, Fritz Freleng, lunched with Mary Englebreit, and attended workshops with Marjolein Bastin; just to name a few, all while working at Hallmark Cards, Inc. as an artist.

6. Oh, "interesting": English was not my first language.

Now I will tag LaRinda and maybe muster up the courage to tag more.